Based in New York City, Kristi Shade began playing the harp at the age of two and has since become one of the preeminent emerging harpists in the industry. A diverse performer, Kristi performs in various musical settings including classical, jazz, pop, Broadway musicals, contemporary and electronic music.

Kristi is the Principal Harpist with The Chamber Orchestra of New York, with which she has recorded two albums on the Naxos record label. She also performs regularly with The Argento Ensemble, One World Symphony and Ensemble 212. She is a founding member of the trio, The Gene Project, and the harp duo, Duo Scorpio. Duo Scorpio released their debut album, Scorpion Tales, in the fall of 2012 on the American Modern Recordings label and were featured performers at the 50th Anniversary American Harp Society Conference in New York City.

In recent years, Kristi has played on Broadway for several shows, including Wicked, A Little Night Music,starring Angela Lansbury, Catherine Zeta Jones, Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch, Gypsy, starring Patti LuPone, and The Apple Tree, starring Kristin Chenoweth.

Kristi has made numerous television appearances, including The Today Show, Late Night with David Letterman, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and All My Children. She has collaborated and/or performed with artists such as Florence + The Machine, The All-American Rejects, The Killers, Sigur Rós, John Legend, Carlos Santana, Patti LaBelle, Chris Noth and Will Ferrell. She has performed for such notable guests as former President George W. Bush, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, Paul McCartney, Madonna, Renee Zellweger and Jessica Simpson.